Top Arabica Coffee Beans
You require the finest quality beans to get the most flavorful coffee. Fortunately, you're in the right place to find top arabica coffee beans that deliver delicious flavor with every sip.
Arabica beans are sweeter and smoother, with notes of chocolate, fruit and nuts. They are generally lower in caffeine and less bitter.
1. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Sometimes referred to as "Ethiopian Crown Jewel," the Yirgacheffe is a top arabica coffee bean that offers bright, floral, citrus, and wine-like flavors with a smooth, silky finish. Ethiopian Yirgacheffes are light-bodied with a delicate acidity, whether they're dried or wet. The soil in this fertile coffee region is rich in nutrients and is soaked with lots of moisture.
Yirgacheffe translates to "garden of flowers" (in the local Guji dialect) The coffee from southern Ethiopia is prized because of its delicate scent. It's also known for its silky smooth texture that is more refined than most other coffees from the country. This milder Ethiopian coffee has a smooth body, a floral, citrus flavor with undertones similar to berries or wine.
Grown at elevations of between 1,700 and 2,200 meters The coffee beans that come from this region are usually considered to be high-grown and are classified as Strictly High Grade (SHG). The elevation allows the coffee plant to mature more slowly, resulting in a more distinct flavor.
Ethiopian coffee is usually wet processed. The coffee beans are immersed in large vats of water until the mucilage, which is wine-like and fruity, gets removed. This process isn't as common in Latin America but it is the reason for the famous washed Yirgacheffe cups.
Choose light roasting to highlight the lemon acidity of the Yirgacheffe beans. Its refreshing flavor makes it a great arabica coffee for espresso. The flavor will hold up quite well in a dark roast, as the fruity flavor will be prevalent. If you're looking to experiment with the flavor of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, you can try it in a pour-over brewer to get a more complex experience.
2. Colombian Supremo
The mild flavor and smooth taste of Colombian Supremo coffee beans is well-known. They are a favorite of many coffee drinkers. The rich soils and climate of Colombia make it ideal for the cultivation of its world-class coffee beans. Regional influences and grading systems also create unique flavors that are that are found in Columbian coffees. The distinct characteristics of each variety of bean create a rich blend of flavors in each cup of Colombian coffee.
The Columbian Supremo is based on the uniformity and size of the beans. This grading system ensures consistency in the quality of the Colombian coffee. The larger the beans, the higher the quality.
The coffee is roasted in small batches to yield a well-rounded lush flavor. It has an intense, fruity sweetness that is perfect for morning or midday cup of coffee.
The Colombian Supremo is a vibrant coffee with a strong acidity, fruity or floral notes and a soft body. This coffee's balance and versatility make it a staple in many coffee blends.
This particular Colombian Supremo is grown in the Popayan Region at elevations up to 6,000 feet above sea level on the Sierra Nevada mountain slopes. The high altitudes and volcanic soils provide the ideal environment for this coffee. Once harvested the coffee is transported to the wet mill processing stations where it is sorted by hand to determine its quality and then fermented to increase its distinctive characteristics. After this process, the coffee is then dried under controlled temperatures to avoid any loss. The coffee is then roasted to medium or dark roast, based on the flavor preferences of the final cup. The coffee is available in drip grind, fine grind and whole bean varieties, all of which are suitable for brewing with a variety of methods.
3. Jamaican Blue Mountain
Jamaican Blue Mountain, a truly rare and special coffee, is a top arabica coffee that is grown only in the Blue Mountains region of Jamaica. The beans are known for their mild flavor and lack of bitterness. They are often used in coffee blends and are the basis of Tia Maria, a popular coffee liquor. Blue Moon, an ice cream with a coffee flavor is also made of the beans.
The unique conditions of the region's growing contribute to the beans' superior quality. The hills are steep and rugged making cultivation difficult. The soil is rich in mineral content, and there is constant fog in the region. The fog is crucial because it slows down the maturation process of the coffee berries. In addition the weather is cool and cloudy, which helps prevent scorching heat that would harm the coffee plants.
The beans are also picked by hand. This is a laborious process that is responsible for their excellent quality. Only a tiny percentage of farmers can cultivate Blue Mountain coffee and must meet strict standards. To be classified as Blue Mountain, a cup of coffee must come from one of the four parishes and be cultivated at a specific elevation.
Due to its exceptional taste, quality and repute, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is very expensive. Because of the high price counterfeiters have attempted to sell their products as authentic. To stop these fakes there are now systems that verify a cup of Blue Mountains coffee. The certification systems also stress ethical sourcing, which includes fair wages for farmers as well as sustainable farming practices. This is a great way to safeguard this top-quality coffee.
4. Costa Rican Tarrazu
Costa Rican Tarrazu takes its job seriously. The region is known for its crisp acidity, snappy flavor and a fine, satisfying aroma. This region's coffee is full-bodied and has a delicate sweetness and tangy citrus taste that makes it a favorite of cuppers.
The high altitude of the region, its abundant volcanic soil, and its flawless drainage make it a highly valued region. The Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is widely regarded as one of top gourmet coffees in the world. The area is also renowned for its stunning scenery.
The coffee is grown in small cooperatives and family farms. They have a close connection with the micro mills that process their beans, which means they are able to control the quality of their product from the beginning until the point of sale. They are Rainforest Alliance certified and strive to maintain an ecosystem that is sustainable, agro-education for farmers, and gender equity.
Early in the 1960s, a few profit-making private companies began buying up Costa Rican farms in Heredia and putting their workers in charge. The farmers were worried that they would lose financial support and the ability to take care of their coffee plants. In 1961 they voted to form the Coope Libertad.
This particular lot originates from the Bella Vista farm in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica. It's medium-roasted and is a smooth cup that has hints of fruit chocolate, cocoa, and caramel. Its acidity and sweetness are balanced and it is a hint of tart lemon. The beans were harvested in January of 2016 and are certified SHB. We love the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and a hint tartness. We have a small amount of this coffee, so don't hesitate!
5. Guatemalan Huehuetenango
Guatemalan Huehuetenango (way-way-ten-oh-gawn) is a classic Central American coffee region known for producing coffees with balanced fruitiness, chocolate notes and a rich mouthfeel. Coffees from the Huehuetenango region are characterized by crisp, clean acidity, delicate fruity flavors like grape, lemon and apple, and a smooth finish.
The farms are located in the high mountain ranges of Guatemala These farms are surrounded by mist-shrouded peaks and fertile volcanic soil which is the ideal environment to cultivate the finest specialty coffees. Guatemala's coffee industry has made it one of the most famous regions for its rich and distinctive coffees.
Huehuetenango, one of the best-known coffee-growing regions in Guatemala is located in this region. Our coffee from Huehuetenango is grown by the ASPROCDEGUA Coop (Asociacion Productores de Cafe Diferenciados y Especiales de Guatemala). The cooperative collaborates with farmers to cultivate and harvest premium arabica beans and improve production methods and quality. They also offer training and support to women working in the coffee industry to ensure sustainable farming practices.
The method we roast this particular coffee from Huehuetenango will bring out the best qualities of its terroir. With an unflavoured roast this coffee is bright and clean with a nice balance of new crop citrus fruitiness and malty nutty tones. As the roast reaches a medium ballpark this coffee will display more winsome acids in the beginning and will develop darker, sweeter tones.
www.coffeee.uk is part of our Great Arabica Series, a collection of of the top arabica coffees from around the world. Each of these incredible single origin beans are carefully cultivated by smallholder farmers and hand-sorted for exceptional quality. Our team of experts roasts these beans in order to make the perfect cup of coffee.